Why is my keeper kicking it long?

In my second season with Worcester City, got promoted first season and now I'm fighting for promotion from the Blue Square Prem in my second. Started the season exceptionally well and all of a sudden it's gone stupidly wrong. My strikers consistently missing simple chances and the whole game has just changed with my best players getting injured consistently and totally under performing and I have no idea why. I understand all the morale and every aspect of the game has an influence. It is annoying but I accept it. One thing I can not understand is why my keeper is consistently kicking the ball long when i have the instruction 'defender collect' and the keepers passing is on short. With 4 games left I just played Luton (top of the league) away from home, I am 6 points behind with a game in hand. 85th we scored to make it 2-1 which would have been a fantastic result and really give us a chance of automatic promotion. I used the shout 'retain possession'. So, with all these considered why for the last 3 mins did my keeper keep kicking it long straight back to them? Suffice to say the equalised in the 92nd minute from the keepers long kick. Why? Of course, my creative freedom is low so that wouldn't be a reason. something as small as this is extremely annoying at such an integral part of the season. It's happened throughout but it's easier to turn a blind eye when there isn't as much at stake.

It could have a tactical reason, it could be a bug, but is just as likely to be that he was having a bad game and panicked under the pressure.

Best raise it in the bugs forum to be sure, and you'll probably get tactical advice here to see if it can be eradicated.

I'm guessing as Luton were losing, they went to attacking/overload and so pushed up. This may have made it impossible for the keeper to play it short without the risk of giving the ball away cheaply, as Luton's attackers would have been right up on your defence.

As his creative freedom was low, he was following your instructions about not taking any risks.

As above.

I really can't remember a GK playing a short pass/throw in the last minutes of a match, when his team is leading by only one goal.

And maybe it was not your GK's fault they equalized.

You have the passing range on "Short" and then have set him to "Defender Collect"

If there isn't a defender within the passing range he can't follow your instructions.

This would have all been fine if long goal kicks weren't the most dangerous attacking weapon (for the opposition) in the game...

The decision-making of the goalkeeper and the logic behind it isn't at fault. The problem is that he consistently aims for the smallest player on your team regardless of what you set him to do and that the goal-kick, indirect free-kick and kick-off formations are all completely botched in the game.

I wouldn't say his long kicks were the problem, but it didn't help. My defence has been a problem all season and it's beyond my tactical help. I've tried most things and yet I've conceded a massive 72 goals! An absolutely unreal amount! Most are from crosses and long range shots. I've conceded 23 direct free kicks! I've scored 1. I have some very decent defenders and this shouldn't be the case but for some reason my defence and goalkeeper have been poor and the opposition seem to have amazing crossers, headers and long shot specialists! Still, managed to finish 2nd and here's to the play-offs.

The end of the Luton game there were easy passing options for the goalkeeper. He had no need to kick it out.

In my second season with Worcester City, got promoted first season and now I'm fighting for promotion from the Blue Square Prem in my second. Started the season exceptionally well and all of a sudden it's gone stupidly wrong. My strikers consistently missing simple chances and the whole game has just changed with my best players getting injured consistently and totally under performing and I have no idea why. I understand all the morale and every aspect of the game has an influence. It is annoying but I accept it. One thing I can not understand is why my keeper is consistently kicking the ball long when i have the instruction 'defender collect' and the keepers passing is on short. With 4 games left I just played Luton (top of the league) away from home, I am 6 points behind with a game in hand. 85th we scored to make it 2-1 which would have been a fantastic result and really give us a chance of automatic promotion. I used the shout 'retain possession'. So, with all these considered why for the last 3 mins did my keeper keep kicking it long straight back to them? Suffice to say the equalised in the 92nd minute from the keepers long kick. Why? Of course, my creative freedom is low so that wouldn't be a reason. something as small as this is extremely annoying at such an integral part of the season. It's happened throughout but it's easier to turn a blind eye when there isn't as much at stake.

Goalkeeping tend to passing to his side-back if he is a sweeper keeper (with right role),

and has PPM 'avoid using his weaker foot'.

If he is right footed he will pass to his left often (IF ONLY his side-back has PPM 'run with ball down the flank'.

Advisable, don't ask your coach to train your side-back to run down the flank if they told you he can't do that.

He will eventually learn it after several time you ask him to do so (but with high percentage of failure every time he do that, same goes if you ask Messi to try long range pass)

I'm no good at tactic, I just looked at AI game analysis, check the keeper PPM and their side-back PPM (has run with ball down)

because last season my goalie pass to my left back (has run with ball down) during 'Key' highlight and the game develop from that. This season i change my left-back who has none, my keeper crazy happy to boot the ball straight upfront and it keep coming back and my keeper passing rate normally are 40/15 something, yes he is very determine person,keep doing that till death.

Please pardon my English.

Thanks for your feedback folks.

We're still fine tuning this area, but there are many factors that come into effect, some of which have been highlighted.

These kind of instructions are delicate, as there are a lot of intricacies at play and if the goalkeeper thinks the short option is too risky for whatever reason, then he will decide to "play safe" first and kick up field.